Summary
For more than a thousand years, a great tower stood at the entrance to Alexandria’s harbour, guiding ships with a fire that could be seen far out at sea. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, or Pharos, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nothing of it stands today, but its site is still one of the most visited places in Alexandria.
Who Built the Lighthouse?

The lighthouse was begun under Ptolemy I, the Macedonian general who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great, and completed under his son Ptolemy II, around 280 BC. Ancient writers name the architect as Sostratus of Cnidus. It stood on the island of Pharos, joined to the city by a causeway, and the island gave its name to the tower.
How Tall Was It?
No exact measurement survives, but most estimates put it at about 100 metres or more, which would have made it one of the tallest buildings in the world for centuries. Descriptions from later visitors, especially Arab travellers, describe three stages: a square base, an octagonal middle and a round top.
How Did It Work?
A fire burned at the top at night, and later writers say a large mirror reflected its light, or the sun by day, out to sea. Ships approaching Egypt’s low, flat coast needed that light to find the harbour safely. The tower also showed the wealth and power of the Ptolemies to every sailor who arrived.
Why Did It Fall?
A series of strong earthquakes damaged the lighthouse over the centuries, and by the 14th century it lay in ruins. In the 1470s and 1480s Sultan Qaitbay built a fortress on the same spot, using some of its stones. Divers working in the harbour since the 1990s have found huge blocks and statues on the seabed nearby, which many experts link to the lighthouse.
10 Days Cairo, Alexandria and Beach Vacation
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View This TripA Name That Lives On
The lighthouse was so famous that its name became the word for “lighthouse” in several languages: phare in French, faro in Italian and Spanish. Its design also influenced later towers around the Mediterranean.
Visit the Site Today
The Qaitbay Citadel now stands where the lighthouse once rose, at the end of Alexandria’s seafront. You can walk its walls, look out over the harbour and imagine the tower above you. Visit it on our day tour to Alexandria from Cairo, together with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, or as part of an Egypt tour package.
Lighthouse of Alexandria: FAQ
Does the Lighthouse of Alexandria still exist?
No. It was ruined by earthquakes by the 14th century. Qaitbay Citadel was built on its site in the late 15th century, and pieces of it lie on the seabed nearby.
How tall was the Lighthouse of Alexandria?
Probably about 100 metres or more; no exact figure survives.
Who built the Lighthouse of Alexandria?
It was begun under Ptolemy I and finished under Ptolemy II around 280 BC, and ancient writers name Sostratus of Cnidus as its architect.
Can you visit the site of the lighthouse?
Yes. Qaitbay Citadel stands on the site and is open to visitors; it is a stop on most Alexandria day tours.












